The group of more than 25 Flint residents and community members braved the rain to protest what they consider "taxation without representation" under the emergency manager in Flint.

Brown adopted a budget plan last week that includes fee increases for Flint residents as well as a possible reduction of 19 police officers and 31 firefighters through layoffs and attrition. Overall, city personnel would be reduced by about 150 positions.

"Don't layoff police, layoff Mike Brown," was another chant from the protesters, who also spoke out against the firefighter reductions.

Lifelong Flint resident Ralph Arellano said he would be willing to pay an additional tax specifically for public safety, but residents should have a chance to weigh in on it.

Arellano said the emergency manager system, in which the governor appoints one person to oversee all city operations, is undemocratic and undermines voters.

View full sizeRyan Garza | MLive.comProtesters speak out against Flint emergency manager Michael Brown on Monday at Flint City Hall. Brown is scheduled to present his budget to the public at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

"It's all about public safety. There's not one person who lives in Flint who doesn't have some story about public safety," said Arellano, who said his home has been broken into twice. "The decisions they're making are short-term and they're short-sighted."

A group of the protesters also feigned a tea party to represent the revolutionary Boston Tea Party.

Nearby, "Garage Sale" signs bore the name of Flint parks and other assets, symbols of the emergency manager's power under state law to sell off city property with the approval of state officials.

The protest is scheduled to last until 1 p.m.

Brown is expected to present his budget to the public at 5:30 p.m. today during a meeting with Flint City Council members on the third floor of city hall, 1101 S. Saginaw St.

Brown has said that changes to the budget can still be made, based on revenue increases or public input.